Easter travelers are left stranded in airports and on motorways across the UK today as millions try to get their weekend breaks in banks.
There was a long tail across the net with the M4 locked in both directions after an explosion in an industrial building “maybe including fireworks and fireworks”.
Passengers have also been hit by delays at airports amid an ongoing staff shortage, there has been chaos from accidents on the M25 motorway and parts of London have come to a standstill thanks to Extinction Rebellion protesters.
An overturned truck also caused a delay of up to 40 minutes on a portion of the M6 earlier on Saturday, according to AA President Edmund King. He said the M25 was also “incredibly slow on both the west side around Heathrow and the east side near Dartford”.
The AA has forecast that a total of 27.6 million trips will take place over busier than usual as people enjoy good weather and embark on the first Easter weekends without Covid-19 restrictions since 2019.
Engineering work and strikes on railroads increased the number of people using the roads, while delays and cancellations continued to hurt airlines and ferries.
British Airways was reported to have halted baggage loading on some flights and left dozens of planes uncleaned as it struggled to deal with huge demand over the Easter holiday.
Hundreds of cancellations followed In recent weeks due to staff shortages, tens of thousands of Britons are left stranded at airports across the UK.
Significant traffic jams were also present on the M20 in Dover due to the continued suspension of P&O Dover-Calais services, with some travelers complaining of missing their ferries after waiting for hours.
The M4 motorway in Newbury is closed in both directions after a large building containing fireworks and fireworks exploded at lunchtime today
Motorists faced significant delays after the road was closed as firefighters dealt with the matter
Families hoping to get away on a second day of great sunshine were met with long queues after an accident in Surrey and a separate ‘police incident’ at the Dartford crossing brought traffic to a standstill.
The photos showed huge rows of cars stretching back for miles.
DFDS advised customers on Friday morning to arrive at least two hours before departure, adding that it “expects a busy day through the Port of Dover.”
Ashley Griffiths Beamon, 33, and her husband Damien Griffiths Beamon, 36, who wed on Thursday and were due to fly to Belgium for their honeymoon, left a 180-minute wait and missed the ferry.
Amanda Burton, 33, of Peterborough, PA told that she got to Dover at 4 a.m. Friday, but missed her ferry at 8 a.m.
The accident occurred on the M4 at 1.41pm between the 13-14 junction in Westbrook, Newbury. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue said it believed there was a possibility of fireworks and fireworks at the scene.
Emergency services put a massive cordon around the area, while National Highways closed the M4 motorway after debris fell on both sides of the road.
Firefighters asked the public to avoid the scene of the accident while dealing with the accident.
According to National Highways: “The M4 is closed in both directions between J13 and J14 due to a major building fire near the M4 causing debris to descend into the road.
Thames Valley Police are leading the operation and Berkshire Fire and Rescue is working to bring the fire under control.
If this closure affects your planned route, please allow additional flight time. Plan ahead, as you may want to change your itinerary or even delay it.
Families hoping to escape the UK on a second day of brilliant sun faced long lines after an accident in Surrey, and a separate police incident at the Dartford crossing brought traffic to a standstill.
A statement said: “We are currently at the scene on the Dartford River Crossing.
We were called out with concerns about the well-being of a woman in the area shortly after 10 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, April 16.
The crossing was closed as the incident is being dealt with. National highways will facilitate diversion through one of the tunnels.
“We will provide an update on the situation as soon as practicable.”
Motorists faced a chaotic start to the Easter holiday, although today’s traffic isn’t thought to be as crowded as the Good Friday holiday, according to the AA.
Motorists faced a chaotic start to the Easter holiday, although today’s traffic isn’t thought to be as crowded as the Good Friday holiday, according to the AA
Essex Police were urging people to avoid the Dartford Crossing after being called to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge earlier today due to a ‘police incident’.
In Manchester, emergency services were called to wreck two cars in Regent Road, Salford, at around 8am today.
Firefighters rescued two people trapped inside one of the vehicles. The route between Ordsall Lane and Trinity Way was logged after the accident.
Pictures from the scene showed two badly damaged cars inside the cordoned off area. Police said four people were taken to hospital. GMP says no arrests have been made but as of 4.30pm the inland road remains closed.
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) spokesperson said: ‘At approximately 8am this morning (Saturday 16 April) we were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving two cars on Regent’s Road, Salford.
Two Salford fire engines and a Lee technical response unit were moved to the incident, as firefighters used cutting and other specialized equipment to rescue two people from a vehicle and take them into the care of their colleagues from the Northwest Ambulance Service.
Two more people were rescued before the crews arrived. “Firefighters made the area safe before leaving about an hour and a half from the scene.”
Four people have been taken to hospital and a major road to Manchester has been closed after two car crashes this morning
Emergency services were called to smash two cars on Regent’s Road, Salford, at about 8 a.m. today. Firefighters rescued two people trapped inside a vehicle
The car organization forecast that a total of 27.6 million trips will be made over the Easter holiday and it’s busier than usual, as people enjoy good weather, embark on stays and avoid train travel due to engineering work.
A crash caused a delay of up to 40 minutes on a part of the M6 earlier on Saturday, according to AA President Edmund King.
He added that the roads to the southwest were not as crowded as Good Friday, but there were some delays on the M4 and M5 near Bristol.
He said: “The traffic today was busy but less crowded than Good Friday.
I drove 176 miles in three and a half hours from Hertfordshire to Old Trafford and charged the car on the road.
“Overall, the picture is crowded, but in general the traffic is flowing.”
The RAC has suggested that the best time to travel on major roads is after 3pm on both Easter Saturday and Sunday, then either before 10:30am on Easter or after 6.30pm to avoid major queues.
National Highway alerted people to a ‘police incident’ on the QEII Bridge earlier today
Staff shortages have caused chaos at Manchester, Birmingham and Heathrow airports amid soaring demand for the Easter holidays, with airlines canceling hundreds of flights.
A total of 1,236 UK flights were canceled by airlines between March 28 and April 12, according to data company Cirium – an increase of 428 per cent over the same period in 2019.
The chaos came as temperatures reached 20.2C in Northolt, west London by 1pm, and mercury was forecast to hit 23C in the late afternoon, making it the hottest day of the year yet.
The current highest temperature is 20.8°C which was recorded in two places, St James’ Park in London on March 23 and Trikno in Cornwall on March 25.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “Hot weather, a lack of trains and increased lengths of stay in the UK mean the roads will be more crowded than usual this Easter with 27.6 million journeys.
Jams are already on the M20 due to Operation Stack and the M25 is experiencing heavy traffic on the west side around Heathrow and east near Dartford.
Holiday traffic to the southwest has resulted in congestion on the M4 and M5 near Bristol.
The backbone of Britain via the M1 and M6 also suffers from heavy traffic and accidents with hot spots near Hemel Hempstead, Sandbach and Bamber Bridge.
Drivers are advised to check their cars before traveling especially tire pressure, oil, windshield washer and fuel levels, in addition to preparing themselves with water and snacks.
“Give yourselves extra time for the journey and build regular stops at least every two hours on your journey.”
There have also been some reports of fuel shortages, though the Gasoline Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent front yards, said it was not aware of widespread problems.
Gordon Palmer, CEO of PRA, said: “We are aware of the protests at several fuel supply sites; however, the majority have not been affected.
“Fuel suppliers are working hard to ensure that fuel is delivered as quickly as possible and our members work closely with them and follow their advice.”
One female driver in London said: ‘(I) haven’t been able to (fill in) yet, I’m still trying to find some in East London, Newham.
“I tried about five different stations, and was able to get some now at a Texaco gas station, but only two pumps were working.”
